What is psychological well-being?

Psychological well-being is about life going well. It is a combination of feeling good and functioning effectively. Sustainable well-being does not require individuals to feel good all the time. The experience of painful emotions such as disappointment, failure, and grief are a normal part of life. Managing these negative emotions is crucial for long-term wellbeing. Psychological well-being is, however, compromised when negative emotions are extreme, or long-lasting, and interfere with a person’s ability to function in his or her daily life. The concept of feeling good encompasses not only the positive emotions of happiness and contentment but also such emotions as interest, engagement, confidence, and affection. Functioning effectively (in a psychological sense) involves the development of one’s potential, having some control over one’s life, having a sense of purpose (e.g., working towards valued goals), and experiencing positive relationships.

The current economic challenges in the country and the world at large may have rendered some of us non-functional. Mental health and financial well-being are two important aspects of our lives that are often viewed in isolation from each other. However, these two elements are deeply intertwined and play a crucial role in determining our overall health and happiness. If you do not take care of your mental health, your finances and other areas of your life will start to decline.

Stress

Stress affects everyone. Not all stress is bad. Long-term stress can harm your health. There are ways to manage stress. If you feel overwhelmed by stress, ask for help from a health professional.

What is financial stress?

One experiences financial stress when one is unable to meet current expenses or is worried about current or future finances. Like other types of stress, financial stress can be objective or subjective. Objective financial difficulty has to do with inadequate funds to cover necessary expenses, debts, school fees, and extended family obligations. Subjective difficulty is the perception of current or future finances, leading to worry and distress. These two are related. A person can have trouble meeting  expenses but views this as acceptable and is not overly worried. Alternatively, another person may be financially secure but still feels quite stressed about finances.

What can we do?

Self-care

This is the key to both mental and financial well-being. When we take care of our physical and mental health, we can make better financial decisions and manage our finances with greater confidence. Self-care activities include exercises, relaxation exercises, meditation, hobbies, time out to relax, deep breathing, talking with others, and fun activities These can reduce stress, improve our focus, and maintain our mental and emotional balance. Self-care includes applying for available financial assistance; getting quotes for more affordable utilities or insurance.  Is gas cheaper than gasoline? Is charcoal cheaper than a gas stove? Can you invest in a pressure cooker to boil beans, meat, and other foods that take a long time to cook? Do we need all the lights in the house on because it is night? Can we cut our phone bills?

Career change

This includes changing jobs, obtaining further education, acquiring skills such as cake decoration, detergent production, hair styling, manicures and pedicures, rearing some animals, and others.

Examine your perspective

It is worth checking whether your perceptions about your financial situation are accurate and balanced. Are you often seeing the negative aspects of your situation but ignoring the positive ones? For instance, does walking to the workplace twice a week help with weight loss? Or has taking  children to a private school made them more social?

Do not be too hard on yourself’

Your financial state does not reflect your value as a person, and over-identifying with your financial status can lead to further stress. Some financial difficulties are beyond your control. A reminder that finances do not define you as a person can reduce feelings of sadness, shame, or guilt.

Ask for help.

If you are struggling financially or psychologically, seek help. This may take the form of financial advice or assistance to reduce financial difficulties. If you notice yourself feeling persistently down, anxious, or hopeless, reach out to friends or family and get help from a mental health professional.

Pray about your finances.

Some Christians see the need to pray only for spiritual needs. It is expedient to pray about every need, including financial ones. Meditate on the scriptures and claim God’s promises.

Sow into the lives of others.

We need to give to others who are in need. If you give out the fifty cedis, God may release the two hundred cedis you need for your son’s school fees. The widow of Zarephath did the same with Elijah; she had only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. She cooked the last flour for this man of God (1 Kings 17:7-16).

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